The development of digital technology in Africa is fueling entrepreneurial energy on the continent and attracting project leaders from around the world. International startups are inventing their future on the continent and exploring new opportunities there.
Recently, the startups Glovo and Heetch chose French-speaking Africa to accelerate their development. The rise of the internet and new technologies is gradually transforming the habits of African consumers and promoting the Uberization of certain activities. The dematerialization of exchanges between consumers and businesses on the internet continues to develop. These are all factors that encourage these young startups to seek opportunities on the continent.
For example, the French startup Heetch, which specializes in transportation between individuals, announced that it had raised €34 million to accelerate its development in French-speaking Africa, as well as in France and Belgium.
In Africa, the startup plans to expand into Algeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Cameroon by the end of 2019. Already present in Morocco since 2018, the ride-hailing company is currently in a test phase in Abidjan, the economic capital of Ivory Coast.
The services offered by the company are more expensive than those of the local taxi market, but the startup intends to differentiate itself from the competition by offering additional comfort and safety.
"The Maghreb and French-speaking Central and West Africa represent tremendous opportunities for Heetch. In fast-growing cities with limited public transport infrastructure, we have the opportunity to help improve the mobility of city dwellers. Given our origins, it is a little easier for us to understand the local culture and issues, but we always choose to partner with a local entrepreneur to create a company that is partly French and partly local,
" explains Teddy Pellerin.
As for Glovo, the Uber of delivery, the future is also taking shape in French-speaking Africa. After Morocco, Egypt, Kenya, and most recently Ivory Coast, the Spanish startup recently announced that it had raised €150 million to accelerate its expansion on the continent. Thanks to this operation, the startup aims to continue its development in 2019, with new locations in Ghana and Nigeria.